New Lancome Grandiose Mascara - Review

I've been at this beauty blogging malarkey for coming up on 3 years now and still not many launches excite me as much as a new high end mascara. Yes, for the most part, what brands are telling me isn't really true and if it is, it really isn't applicable in every day life but sell me slippers and call me Dorothy if I don't fall for it every time. Lancôme's Grandiôse and its swan necked applicator are case in point here but still, I'm sold. 

Shehla Shaikh, Head of Lancôme's Elite Team
shows us the perfect application technique at the product launch. 

The problem identified by Lancôme is that many women struggle to apply mascara evenly to both eyes, without reaching across the bridge of the nose and smudging product in the process. Their solution? The patented swan neck applicator. (That twisted doohickey above). 

In their studies of make up application, eye experts at the brand have broken the eye down into six zones to ensure expert application every time. There are nine steps for both eyes combined with a further four should you be feeling dedicated. I won't copy & paste or relay them verbatim but you can see them here. 

What I will say is that taking my time, concentrating on my lashes as outer, middle and inner and applying Grandiôse with care has given me the most amazing false lash effect that I've ever achieved from a mascara. Like ever. 

The Grandiôse tube itself is beautiful with the signature Lancôme rose outstretched from the black bell shaped end and suspended in clear resin. While I'm still hesitant to twist and pump the wand from the tube - it goes against all my mascara bacteria fighting inclinations - there is no doubting the finished result is a sight to behold. 

My lashes are separated, elongated and volumised without feeling heavy or overly made up. I'm not one to smudge my mascara on application normally but there are definite benefits to the swan necked wand. The bend reaches over the bridge of my nose easily and I just seem to get a better job done faster. That's a win, right? 

Whether it's the formulation, the wand, the technique or a combination of all three, Lancôme's Grandiôse is definitely worth your attention. You'll find it on counters exclusively in Brown Thomas until August 1st for €30 and nationwide thereafter. I'm definitely a fan. 

If the eye experts are watching though, could we have some research into why I can't keep my mouth closed when applying mascara? The struggle is real!

New Origins Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads - They Pack a Powerful Punch

I've been a fan of Origins Modern Friction ever since my thirsty visage tried it first 18 months ago. You can see my glowing review here but when I saw that Origins were releasing all of that natural skin polishing goodness in pad form my interest was piqued. 

Who doesn't love to cut their skincare time to smithereens? Or a natural product with enough oomph that it's a viable alternative to chemical peels? When the Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads dropped on my desk, I was counting the hours until I could put them to the test. 

Paraben, sulfate & phthalate free!

Made using the tried and true Modern Friction ingredients: fruit acids, rice bran extract, aloe comforting complex (aloe, perilla seed extract & caffeine) with an essential oil blend of lime, grapefruit, lemongrass, spearmint, clary sage, geranium, lavender and thyme. That's a lot of scrubby, comforting goodness to pack into these double sided discs, right? It is and it works. 

I think what surprised me most by these Instant Brightening Pads was just how instant the effects were. The pads are double sided and you can feel the scrubbiness as you swipe them across your clean fizzog (avoiding your eyes)(trust me), the tingle starts almost immediately and makes me believe these will not be the friend of any sensitive skinned ladies. At no stage is that tingle uncomfortable though. Wet enough to leave a slight residue, I wait until that has dried before I press on some serum then apply a hydrating moisturiser or unctuous night cream. 

I've been having a love affair with brightening products of late, I think it's the spring in the air but these powerful little blighters have taken that to the next level. Strong enough that you only need use them twice a week for one minute at a time yet gentle enough that my skin is comforted and soft when I do, I can see this particular Origins newbie being in my rotation for some time to come. 

You'll get Origins Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads on counter from June, priced at €44 (same price as the original scrub) for 40. 

What say we to beauty in speedy pad form? Reckon you'll be picking these up?

New Bourjois Violine Hypnotique - On my Nails ALL YEAR

I make no secret of my love for the French brand Bourjois, their polishes - to me - are one of the most underrated polish lines on sale today. For years now the 1 seconde 18 holo glitter has been my go to and I never thought I'd like a polish more - then came 34 - Violine Hynotique. 

As with every polish in the 1 Seconde range, the brush is short but splays wide so that you can, if you wanted to, coat your entire nail in just one stroke - though admittedly that takes some practice. Pictured above is two coats and no topcoat to show the true shine you can achieve with this deep burgundy beaut. 

These photos don't even come close to doing the rich and luxurious metallic burgundy colour justice. Once the light catches the polish on your fingers it comes to life with the tiniest burgundy shimmer that gives depth and shine to the colour. 

In full daylight

4 Days Later

Because Christmas and the New Year didn't involve a lot more than unwrapping Quality Street, Violine Hypnotique had an easier trial than most but this (inexplicably fuzzy) pic was taken 4 days after application. On the third day, I used a coat of Sally Hansen's Insta Dri to add more shine but nonetheless this is seriously impressive. 

My mark of a winner when it comes to polish though? Three times I cleaned Violine Hypnotique off just to reapply it again instantly - that and every other nurse in A&E asking where I'd gotten it. This one's a winner, Bourjois, no doubt about it.  

You'll get Bourjois Violine Hypnotique on shelves from January 22nd but more than likely Boots will smash that date so I'm advising you keep your eyes peeled from now - it's definitely worth your while. 

Welcome to the New CherrySue Doin' the Do!

Weeeeeelllll? What do we reckon? New? Improved? 

It's been a long while since I threatened to shake things up around here and by gum I've only gone and done it. With a little help from lovely American designer Stasia B and a good dollop of help haunting from the Gorgebags, I managed to get it together and I'm dying to know what you think? 

The original plan was to wipe the whole slate clean and work with a simple white background and picture tiles but you know what? That's not me. I like things fun, I like things colourful and when it comes to getting your mitts on the good stuff I want that to be as easy as possible. I wanted this site to feel familiar so opted for an upgrade rather than an overhaul and I couldn't be happier with the results. 

All of your favourite series (i.e the ones that attract thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of you a day) are here to stay. Monday's Moments, Things that Rustle My Jimmies and the cracking Flicks on Fridays, thanks to Aaron. The predominant theme will continue to be beauty because, quite frankly, I'm obsessed. 

We're also going to trial a new series 'Fellas on Fridays' where the youngest Gorgebag, Adam, he that would eat himself were he chocolate, lets us know his thoughts on all things manly (product wise) - it's about time he earned his Shiseido stealing keep! 


Finally, to celebrate the new look CherrySue, we're about to kick off two weeks of incredible Giveaways. These will take place across all social media platforms so there's a chance for every one of you to get your talons on something very special. The first of these crackers will be live in 10 minutes!

It's just my way of saying a heartfelt Thank You for sticking around and checking in for the past two years and for making me laugh every single day with your comments, tweets, mails and messages. It has changed my life for the absolute better and opened up opportunities to me that I could never have dreamed possible in the past. Honestly, Thanks. 


Do please let me know your thoughts 
on everything in the comments. 
As ever, CherrySue is a place to speak freely 
and be heard - extra points for gifs (you know it).  

MUA Matte Palette v Urban Decay's Naked Basics - Swatches

we had a look yesterday at MUA's Smokin palette versus Urban Decay's Smoked and it very nearly blew up the blog. How's about a look at the budget beauty brands other newest offering - the Matte Palette versus one of the worlds nicest matte palettes that just so happens to also belong to Urban Decay - Naked Basics. 

Can we first take a minute to look at just how pretty the Matte Palette is for just €4.77? Seriously. 

But we're here to compare so let's...

As you can see, in the pan we're looking at 6 almost perfect matches with 4 bonus mattes. 

But will the swatches hold up? 

Despite there being slightly more fall out on MUAs side, the colours match up pretty much perfectly. The consistency of Urban Decay is slightly softer and feels more velvety on application but that doesn't mean MUA is far off - their pigmentation holds and with the use of a primer, the minimal fall out is reduced significantly.  

The four extra colours in the Matte Palette can't go unnoticed either, that dusky pink is beautiful with the soft blue in the crease for an every day pretty eye.  

While Naked Basics is and always has been a go to palette of mine, MUAs Matte Palette is NOTHING to be sneezed at. If matte shadows are you thing or you're just looking for a subtle day time palette I'd urge you to skedaddle to Superdrug or get your mitts on the Matte Palette here for less than a fiver. IMHO it is indeed a super duper. 

Tempted? 

Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot: Stopping Spots in Their Tracks

Loathe as I am to admit it I'm still prone to the odd breakout, sometimes hormone related, more often than not stress related but never less than day ruining and never, never welcome. 

Having learned that my beloved Stop the Spot from Sephora had been discontinued it was back to trusty old Sudomcrem for me until Vichy got in touch. Their Normaderm Hyaluspot promised to 'Stop the spot in 2 hours, clear it in 4'! 'Wowsers' thought I. 

One of the keys to clear, blemish free skin is the reduction of bacteria on the skins surface. The press release for Hyaluspot had some pretty sobering statistics when it comes to common bacteria in everyday places. 

While I'm never a Nervous Nelly when it comes to bacteria ( we needs it for our immune systems, kids) I'm still conscious that my hands are clean when touching my face, especially if I'm suffering with a mini Vesuvius. 

Containing Hyaluronic Acid (hence the name) the clear, fast drying gel seals in your spot and forms a protective invisible barrier under which the healing can begin and stopping any more nasties getting in. That means quicker healing time and less chance of lasting scars. 

While the applicator is specifically designed to be cool and soothing on inflamed and irritated skin, I'd be very hesitant to use it directly on the spot unless you're going to disinfect it every time to stop cross contamination. I'm just too lazy for that so I squeeze the gel onto a freshly washed finger instead and apply it directly. 

While it has been clinically proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria within 2 hours, how did Hyaluspot fare on its other promises?  

Truth be told, there was a reduction in the appearance of Vesuvius in 24 hours but here I am 4 days later and I'm certainly not completely Vesuviusless. I'm a little let down but not at all surprised. 

The good news is that the most pleasing thing about this new spot treatment lies in its pain relieving power. We all know hormonal spots can give you that pressure pain that can resonate into the bones of your face on a bad day, well Hyaluspot nipped that right in the bud for me. For that alone I'll happily pay the €10 they're charging in pharmacies. 

The fact that the youngest Gorgebag concurs about the pain relief and has come back to me twice already looking to use it again means it must be helping him and for that I'm grateful to Vichy. 

Have you tried this spot treatment yet? Let me know what you use to combat hormonal and stress related breakouts, I'm always open for new remedies. 

New: Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Make-Up

Lovers of Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs rejoice, the award winning aerosol version has just been given a new member of the family and it's a doozy. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Make Up may be a mouthful to say but come its release this month I've an inkling it'll be the name on everyone's lips. 

I've long advocated Sally's spray version as a cheap, fool proof saviour for pasty, veined or scarred skin in need of a little colour, it sprays on quickly and once rubbed in stays put for hours, on any part of the body. This new Leg Make Up does all of that but with a lot more coverage. 

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Make Up: €16.95

I'm a sufferer of the dreaded KP (Keritosis Pilaris) (Chuck Feed skin) on my upper legs and upper arms so have, for a long time relied on spray tans to make me feel more at ease when showing more flesh. When I'm not in the spray tan mood MAC Face & Body is my staple and that's what I thought of as soon as I swatched this new line. 

Water and transfer resistant, the soft make up applies easily to any area of the body but provides enough coverage for skin confidence in whatever you happen to be wearing. As for durability? Eldest Gorgebag, owner of the hairy arms up there, spent a good ten minutes scrubbing his arm full of swatches. Whereas I wore the Medium version for an evening on the tiles - it stayed flawlessly put for the duration with no bed sheet or PJ transfer that night and minimal scrubbage in the morning to remove the last traces. 

Once more Sally Hansen have developed a leg product that's not just good for legs, I'm talking l-arms, l-ecolletáge and l-aces (occasionally l-arses, if I'm off for a swim) too and coming in at €16.95 for 118ml, it's a good sight cheaper than MAC Face & Body, that's got to be a win.  

The four natural looking shades Light, Medium, Tan and Deep will be available from this month in pharmacies and super markets nationwide. What do we think? Reckon you'll be adding Leg Make Up to your make up arsenal? 

New Cherry Blossom Girl Polishes - Essence Autumn 2012

We all know I'm a big Essence fan when it comes to polish, that and a sucker for all things Cherry so I was thrilled to spy Essence's new polish offering for Autumn 2012 on stands this week. I've been so impressed with every one of these that I just had to share so that you can grab some, before the collection disappears, should they appeal to you too. 

My Little Kimono is a light taupe brown with a silver blue shimmer woven through. Beautiful in the sunlight and subtle enough for any occasion. It's a darker than the colour in the bottle once applied but still puts me in mind of Chanel Frenzy with one coat. In short, it’s a beaut.

It’s Peach Not Cherry is a creamy peach orange polish with a luxurious formulation that belies its €2.29 price tag. Again application is a cinch, barely two coats needed for smooth, opaque colour.

Fortune Cookie is a bright mustard, much like a the neon yellow of a Fortune Cookie (funnily enough). There’s a silver micro shimmer here too that translates to shine on the nail. Just Gorgeous.

Cherry Cherry Girl is a wowzer bright orange with red undertone, it reminds me a lot of a creamy Hedonist from Model’s Own in real life. It’s a shiny in yo’ face irreverent addition to the Autumn season and is currently on my tootsies. 

As with this entire range the polish itself applies with no issues whatsoever. Two thin coats = perfect nail colour. There's no top coat used in these pics either, look at that shine!

CherryBlossom Girl Polishes - €2.29 each or the lot for €9.16. Mad, Ted. 

If you haven’t tried Essence polishes before, I’d urge you to do so. Not only is the price ridiculously affordable but the colours are always on the cutting edge of trends and the formulation easily holds its own against (if not supersedes) some high end brands.  

You’ll pick up this entire collection for just under a tenner or just the one for less than the price of a coffee. Essence are available in all good pharmacies, larger Penney’s, Boots and Dunnes Stores.

We Like?

Introducing The Dr Hauschka's Pure Care Cover Sticks Addition for Medium to Dark Skin

Listen up medium to dark skinned lovelies, Dr Hauschka have just extended their Pure Care Cover Stick range with you specifically in mind. Their new addition, 03 Sand, joins 01 Natural and 02 Beige to provide not only first class coverage for problem areas but also to help heal the skin and return your visages to their natural balance.

Pure Care Cover Sticks in L-R 01, 03 & 02

Ingredients such as tea tree and manuka oil, kidney vetch and calendula all work to calm the skin and restore it to its former glory. Because of the healing properties of the Pure Care Cover Sticks, it’s recommended that they’re used at the first sign of a blemish. Place your chosen shade onto the affected area and blend gently to build up cover before applying your foundation. Finishing your look with a translucent powder, such as Dr Hauschka’s Illuminating Powder will set your make up in place and prevent slippage throughout the day.

Pure Cover Stick 01 Natural for light skin tones

Pure Cover Stick 02 Beige for light to medium skintones

New Addition: Pure Cover Stick 03 Sand for medium to dark skin tones

Because, thankfully, I’m blemish free at the mo, I decided on a little ‘speriment: here’s hoping you’ll never have an outbreak brighter than red ink on your poor kisser but just look at the coverage achieved with one stroke of my perfect match 02. It blends to a matte soft finish, with this and your foundation in place blemishes should be near invisible. Good, right?

Bright red ink is all but covered in one simple stroke

Like the Lipstick Novums from the Decorative range, Pure Care Cover Sticks are blended with natural waxes so they’re pleasantly scented (With the lippies it’s lavender (a joy to use) and this time it’s a slight woody aroma) they almost melt into the skin and prevent dryness associated with healing blemishes.

I’ve said before that I love the ethos behind the Dr Hauschka brand; their natural approach to everyday skin care problems is hugely refreshing in a world of chemical solutions. The fact that this product not only gives you flawless coverage but works to treat your skin and gently heal problem areas makes it a winner in my book.

Priced at €16.95 the Pure Care Cover Sticks are part of the Dr Haushcka Skin Care Range that is stocked in selected Health Stores, Pharmacies, Avoca & Harvey Nics, though if none of the above suit you, there’s a full list of stockists on www.drhauschkaireland.ie.

Music Box: The New Fragrance from Kylie Minogue

To celebrate 25 years in the music business (a quarter century, yo) Kylie introduces her newest fragrance, Music Box. The diminutive pop minstrel in presenting this brand new scent says thus: "Ever since I was a little child, I’ve loved the magical quality of an old fashioned music box. My new fragrance, Music Box, is a sensual scent that’s designed to evoke the same sense of surprise and delight. I hope that everyone finds it as captivating as I do"

One play of this album & I was back in Barcelona on the Aphrodite Tour

Opening the press pack for Music Box last week I was thrilled that it also included a Best Of album from Ms Minogue so my squee factor was pretty high (I'm a huge fan) but unfortunately opening the fragrance itself didn't prove so squee inducing. Lemme show you why: 

Kylie Minogue: Music Box - €19.95 w/ free 200ml Body Lotion

I'm all about the packaging, I've a serious grá for luxurious bottles and compacts, pretty is my thing. First off I will say that I LOVE the idea behind the design of the bottle, it's an actual music box, supposed to lie on it's side on your dresser, delightful. My difficulty was with the lid and spray itself, it's gold plastic and really not good quality plastic at that. It's such a terrible shame and just cheapens the product for me. Again, packaging is a personal preference, this might not bother you at all.

You want to know how it smells, right? This is where things turn around, Music box is both floral and fruity with a woody, creamy finish. There's red berries, raspberry and strawberries with bergamot, rose and (my favourite flower) freesia. All of which is infused with white musk, sandalwood and rare amber. 

I. Love. It!

It's fun and fruity and right up my alley, lasts for a good 4 hours on the skin before the need to respritz so from a scent point of view, it's a win. I genuinely am dissapointed with the lid on the bottle as I feel it lets this product down but for €19.99 with a free 200ml Body Lotion, Music Box is one book I'm recommending you don't judge by its cover. On counters now. 

New Barry M Nail Paint: Aqua Glitter

Being an avid fan of Barry M’s Red Glitter and of anything Aqua (It's my birthstone dont'cha know?) I was thrilled to spy this polish when in Boots last week.

It’s a ‘Have your eye out’ shiny teal glitter that, while not as densely packed as it’s red counterpart, is still well worth a look for €4.99.

Barry M Aqua Glitter - Top Right: Two coats, Bottom Left: One coat over Essence Let's Get Lost with Matte Top Coat

The polish consists of small and mid sized aqua glitters in a teal jelly suspension. It can be worn alone, using two coats for a sparkly, subtle look but with sparse glitters like this I prefer to use them as top coats.

Two Coats 

Mattified for the Office

Over an aqua blue polish (Essence Let's Get Lost) the aqua glitter becomes more pronounced, I’ve used a matte top coat for a different take and to make it a little more work appropriate.

Gradient for Partying!

Used as a gradient over a tip of Miss Sporty Teal, Aqua Glitter comes to life and is an ideal mani for a night out on the tiles.

What say we? Aqua Glitter giving you the want? I'd love to know which of the three looks you prefer too...